Tom Hardy Says Film Is Getting A “Kick In The Balls” From TV

Tom Hardy Says Film Is Getting A "Kick In The Balls" From TV

“I didn’t really want to do something unless I had a voice beyond just being an actor,” Zooey Deschanel told Variety recently about her decision to take on the hit Fox sitcom “New Girl.” “I was always wary about doing television, just because you have to play the same character for a long period of time. Being a producer gave me the confidence to know that it would be a dialogue, and I wouldn’t just be told what to do.” And she’s not the only actor seeing creative value in small screen endeavours.

“I would rather take that £18m budget and produce a TV series where an idea can fully flourish, rather than see it have to tick certain boxes and get cut into something it was never meant to be,” Hardy told Screen Daily. And not only that, Hardy revealed that he’s developing a show that essentially emulates the “True Detective” model, that will enable him to secure top tier creatives.

“You get a higher level of talent who don’t want to commit to a longterm deal,” he said about the approach.

This is all just more evidence of the growing divide between TV and film, where both are using their resources—both big and small—to achieve different ends. For the studios, big money means big blockbusters more often these days, while TV divisions are using their boundaries to push the envelope with the kinds of stories they tell. Basically, the smaller the stakes involved, the greater risk you can take, leading to more interesting storytelling, which in turn is more interesting for actors (and directors, writers, etc.).

Studio movies suck these days, and the only people who don't know that are male 13-year-old comic book fans. EVERYthing with bite, with weight, with significance, is on tv now. The business IS imploding with remakes, reboots, sequels, bathroom humor and empty tentpoles, and the bottom-feeders in charge are going to milk out every last drop they can before they are forced to adapt a new business model. In the meantime, I will be sitting in the quietude of my living room after a hard day at work, sipping a delicious cocktail and watching great shows like "Justified" on my flatscreen.

No one mentioned Peaky Blinders? FANTASTIC show. I can't wait to see what Tom will bring to it. There are some brilliant shows on TV right now. Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Longmire, TURN….too many to list, my DVR is always full haha.

As a viewer, I'm happy. Most cinema isn't great but directors like the coen brothers, Scorsese, Fincher, Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, spike jonze are still being made. Of course, I watch waaaaaaay more tv and fewer films than I used to but this makes me happy cuz there's always more good content than I have time for.

Makes sense ..Depends if you want a steady job (TV) or to make $$ (Movies)..TV is instant gratification and Movies are for the long haul – take them out and show them any time you want – Guess I vote for Movies!!
AND ANYTHING TOM HARDY SAYS IS OK w/me!! Even if I am 79 years old – I know "talent" when I see and hear it! as I have been watching movies since I was but a wee lass in Texas.

When television is good, it's very, very good. But about 99% of it is crap, because the need for a continuing story smoothes out all the rough edges of storytelling into a kind of mediocrity until they jump the shark. There are few really good television shows–Breaking Bad; Dexter, for the first few seasons; Game of Thrones, the first few seasons; House of Cards, first season; The Shield, first four-five seasons; there are probably more, but not many.